Collections storage

Indian

India
Tripati Area

Early Pandiyan Period

17th Century

1600

1699

Asian

Wood
Paint
Metal
Gesso (uncertain)

Carved
Painted

Ravana
Gada
Trishula
Ghanta

Carved and painted wood statue of kneeling figure of Ravana, Hindu deity. Nine heads and nineteen arms. Skin of figure painted in red with yellow paint on short lower garment and ornamentation which includes crowns, earrings, necklaces, arm bands, anklets. Right arms: 1)to far right palm open supporting heads; 2)in front of right side of chest with palm open and upward; 3)above right knee holding Khadga(sword); 4)lowered hand grasping object which is currently missing, probably for Gada(club); 5)downward with palm open and facing down; 6)lowered holding Shula(spear); 7)to front holding Naga(snake); 8)front and upward holding handle with top broken off, probably for Trishula(trident); 9)upward holding Vajra(bolt of lightening); 10)straight to right side holding Ghanta(bell). Left arms: 1)far left and back palm open as if to support heads; 2)in front of chest with palm open and upward; 3)in front of body at waist level holding musical instrument with hand-like end; 4)downward with palm open and facing down; 5)lowered holding Khetaka(shield); 6)to front holding Gada(club); 7)raised holding Ankusha(hook); 8)raised holding Pasha(lasso); 9)raised holding curved end, possibly Padma(lotus) but piece is missing.

Gift of Sonia C. J. Wardlaw and Rosita Jaipaul